Dear Mr. Natural,
I love you. I ate lunch with you for the first time today and it was instant, strong, passionate love. I've lived in Austin for seven years and have driven past your S. Lamar location at least a hundred times, but today was the first time I ever patronized you, and it was only because I was in the neighborhood for my quarterly eyebrow torture at the Waxing Studio. I used to think your name was silly. It made me think of R. Crumb's barefoot hippie character, but you are truly a gentleman.
It was as if you knew that my favorite restaurants are Mexican, healthy and cafeteria-style, and you are all three. I had tofu tamales, refried beans, cucumber salad, and green beans and each item on my plate was delicious. Not salty or greasy or heavy, but just perfect. I also loved that you had at least ten different agua fresca flavors to choose from. I had watermelon and it was refreshing! I ate and drank every last droplet of food and drink and I did not feel too full when I got up to leave. You also have a maddening array of refrigerated bottled drinks. I did not sample your dairy- and sugar-free desserts, because truthfully, I usually dislike those, but next time (and THERE WILL BE A NEXT TIME!) I will.
I am hoping to convince the man I love, Bob, to visit you and taste your soy guisada and your fried eggplant and your tamales. He is very resistant to foods that don't contain animals, but I know that he will read this letter and realize that knowing you is a wonderful thing and that he could benefit from your healthy vegetable side dishes and your multiple variations on tamarindo. You are more delicious and a better dollar value than Casa de Luz, and I just might like you more than I like La Reyna, and that's saying a lot.
Mr. Natural, thank you for just being. I wish you were closer to my house. I would eat at you all the time.
Here's to many more meals together,
Mo